Moss Family of Texas:Information about James Knott

James Knott (b. Abt. 1594, d. Bef. May 1653)

James Knott (son of Bernard Knott and Alice Longe) was born Abt. 1594 in England, and died Bef. May 1653 in Surry, Maryland.He married Elinor Collins.Notes for James Knott:from ADVENTURES of PURSE and PERSON and THEIR FAMILIES 1607-1624/5published by Order of First Families of Virginia 1607-1624/5 (3rd edition, 1987)p. 70MUSTERSCHARLES HARMAN AND HIS MUSTERCharles Harman age 24 in the Furtherance1622John Askume age 22 in the Charles 1624Robert Fennell age 20 in the Charles 1624JAMES KNOTT age 23 in the George 1617PROVISION:Corne, 24 barreles, ARMES:peeces, 6; powder, 10 lb;Shott, 200 lb; houses, 2; Store, 1; boate, 1.p. 386-387 JAMES KNOTT came to Virginia in the GEORGE, 1617.He was living on the Eastern Shore, 16 Feb. 1623/4, when the census was taken, (Hooten, p. 188) and appears there in the muster 7 Feb. 1624/5.He apparently lived on land belonging to Capt. william Epes, who was no longer in Virginia, and was in court several times because this was done evidently without authorization from Epes or his representative.On 8 Sept. 1634 John Fisher, aged 30, a cousin of Capt. Epes, testified that James Knott lived on Capt. Epes' land two years after the death of Henry Glover, to whom it had been leased, and refused to give it up to Fisher as Epes' representative (Northampton Co. Orders, Wills & Deeds 1632-40, p. 21,2,10,47,60,69).Elinor, wife of James Knott, testified, 16 June 1635, about gossip concerning Mrs. Hannah Savage she heard "a Sunday comeing from church" (Ibid., p. 55).He is last mentioned on the Shore in Feb. 1635/6. But James Knott already had made his plans to move to the mainland.On 12 March 1632/3, as James Knott, planter, of Accomack, he patented 50 acres at the mouth of Hampton River, to keep a house of entertainment, adjoining Capt. Francis West and the glebe land, with the house commonly called the "Great Howse" (Patent Bk, 1, p. 133.In a neighboring patent, 3 June 1635, this is described as one Nansemund River {ibid, p. 240}.It is now the city of Hampton).Elizabeth City County was created in 1634 and on 24 March 1635/6 James Knott patented 1200 acres in the new county on Nansemund River, due for the personal adventure of his wife Elianor Knott and the transportation of 23 person (Ibid., p. 334).He renewed this patent 15 Aug. 1637, by which time the land was in New Norfolk County (Ibid., p. 457).The same year the county was divided into Upper Norfolk and Lower Norfolk. In 1638 James Knott of "Mausanum:[Nansemond] in virginia, Gent., aged 35 years or thereabouts, deposed concerning the Massacre of 1622, having been a resident for twenty years (T IX, p. 272, from a document in the Public Record Office, London).In 1646 Nansemond County replaced Upper Norfolk County.Soon Knott again had the urge to move, this time to Maryland.On 31 Dec. 1652 Mr. James Knott "demands 200 acres for transporting himself and Nathaniel Knott,his son, into this province in March last"(Maryland Land Office BK. ABH, fo. 237).He did not live to enjoy his new residence long.The will of James Knott of Nansemun in Virginia, 4 Sept. 1651-13 May 1653, was recorded in Maryland (Maryland Proprietary Wills 1, p. 51).He named his three sons, Bernard, Nathaniel and William Knott, all under 21, daughter Mary Knott, under 16, daughter Eliza; Thomas for the benefit of her unnamed son, sister E. M. Collins, and wife Elinor.***********************************************from CAVALIERS and PIONEERS:ABSTRACTS of VIRGINIA LAND PATENTS and GRANTS 1623-1666, VOL. 1p. 18Patent Book 1 - Part 1 JAMES KNOTT, Planter, of Accomack, 30 acs., 12 Mar. 1632, p. 133.Desiring to keepe a howse of entertainment in the lower parte at the Mouth of Hampton Riv. within the precincts of Elizabeth Citty whereby strangers & other may bee well accommodated withgreat ease to the inhabitants in those parts, etc.Abutting Sly. upon a Cr. parting the same from land of Capt. Francis West, Nly. upon the Gleab land & Wly, upon sd. Riv.To have & to hold the sd. 50 acs. togeather with the howse commonlycalled the great howse & all other howses ediffices & buildings &c. 21 years Lease, as above.p. 37 JAMES KNOTT, 1550 acs. Up. Co. of new Norf., 18 Aug. 1637, p. 457.N. E. faceing upon Nansamund Riv., S. into the woods, E. upon the second Cr. & W. & s. upon the third Cr. 50 acs. for the per. adv. of his wife Elianor Knott & 200 acs. by purchase from Maudlin Jones, due for her per. adv. & trans. of 1 servt. called Robert Bryan & 1400 acs. for trans. of 28 pers:Robert ---, Henry Yates, Ellin Williams, Ann Crawford, Lewis Vaughan, Thomas Taylor, Thomas Broad, John Horne, Francis Bisley, John Piper, John Popelwell, Thomas Brough, Richard Russell, Thomas Sparrow, Tho. Ferreby, Robert Maxe, Robert Selby, Robert Wells, Richard Wheeler, & 2 Negroes, Richard Nowell, Walter Blake, Richard Reynolds.****************************************from VIRGINIA'S EASTERN SHORE:A HISTORY of NORTHAMPTONand ACCOMACK COUNTIES, VOL. 1(By Ralph T. Whitelaw)p. 1461633 -- William Epes of the Island of St. Christopher in the West Indies gae a power of attorney to William Stone to rent out and care for his land.Later in the year James Knott had squatted here and he was ordered to answer to suit of Captain Stone.p. 170With the appointment of Claiborne as first in the commission and of the quorum this SECRETARY'S LAND became the official seat of local government.This is confirmed by several early entries, the first being dated March 13, 1632/3, when the court ordered "that James Knott shall answere at a suite preferred by Mr. William Stone in the behalfe of Captain William Eps concerning a parsell of land that the syd Knott holdeth on the other syde of kings Creeke."The land in questions was N31, KING'S CREEK PLANTATION, indicating that the court was sitting across the creek from the tract, i.e., upon this SECRETARY'S LAND.************************************from THE JAMESTOWNE SOCIETY REGISTER of QUALIFYING SEVENTEENTH CENTRUY ANCESTORS (1994)NAMEDATE/SERVICECOUNTY/PLACEKnott, Jamesd. 1653Surry, MarylandMuster of 1624/5********************************from Family Tree Maker, Virginia Land Records, Abstracts of Virginia Land Patents (Broderbund Software, Inc.)31 Decr. 1652.Mr. James Knott demands 200 acres for transporting himself and Nathaniel Knott, his son, into this province March last.MD. LAND OFFICE,LIB. A. B. H. fol. 237James Knott, of Nansemun, in Virginia, 4 Sept. 1651, 13 May 1653.(Wills Libr. 1, fol 51) To my three sons:Barnard, Nathaniel, and William Knott four cows, apiece, which cows, with all the females, to be kept together tilll my eldest son Bernard Knott shall attain the age of twenty-one years, and then to be equally divided between my said sons.Said cows to be delivered by my executor on or before 25 Decr. next.To my daughter, Mary, six cows, to be delivered for yer use on or before 25 Decr. next, and all the females increase to be kept for her use till she is sixteen.To said daighter Mary one negro man called Symon, to be delivered to her on or before 20 Octr. 1652.To my son Barnard Knott 600 acres, being the plantation whereon I now live, with all houses, edifices, &c. and in case my son Barnard die under age or without issue, the survivors of my children to enjoy all.To my sons Nathaniel & William Knott 600 acres equally between them, being the upper part of htis divident now in my possession, with remainder to survivor."To my sister E. M. Colins (sic) Anna Young or any of her Children two Cows that shall come here to Demand them."to my daughter Elizabeth Thomas one cow, and the female increase thereof for ten years, to go to the proper use and benefit of her young son, and the cow to be delivered on or before 25 Dec'r next.All the rest of my estate, after payment of debts, legacies and funeral expenses, to be divided into five equal parts, one to my wife and the remaining four parts to my children Barnard, Nathaniel, William, and Mary knott.My two negroes Anthony and Maneeno, however, are to be at my wife's absolute disposal.My loving wife, and my son Bernard Knott to be joint executor and executrix, and I desire my loving son-in-law Thomas Thomas and my loving friend John Ascumb to be overseers, and in token of my love to them i give them each 300 lb. tobacco.Witness.Geo. White."I Ellinor Knott the late wife of James Knott deceased doe hereby testifie upon oath that this within written is to the best of my knowledge the last will and Testament of my Late husband dec'ed this 13th of May 1653.The marke ofEllinor {} Knot."Sworne before meRi; Preston22 June 1653.Thos. cornwallis Esq. enters caveat as principal creditor.The son-in-law, Thomas Thomas, mentioned above, was a Calvert county man, and died in 1670, leaving issue.John Ascumb (or rather Ashcomb) owned land both in Calvert and St. Mary's counties.(Notes were obtained through the courtesy of Dr. Christopher Johnson, of Baltimore)Another possible birth year for James Knott could be 1602, but that would not match his age on the muster at Jamestown that states that he was 23 in 1617.Children of James Knott and Elinor Collins are: